U.S. patent application number 12/099487 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-04 for vehicle dashboard accommodation structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hideki Hirata, Kazuhiko Noguchi.
Application Number | 20080296923 12/099487 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39685218 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080296923 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hirata; Hideki ; et
al. |
December 4, 2008 |
VEHICLE DASHBOARD ACCOMMODATION STRUCTURE
Abstract
A dashboard of a vehicle includes an accommodation unit provided
at a longitudinal end of the dashboard and positioned adjacent to a
door and a side mirror located outside the door adjacent to the
accommodation unit, the accommodation unit configured to receive an
article, and the accommodation unit including a lid, wherein the
lid is configured to stand up adjacent to the side mirror when in
an open position.
Inventors: |
Hirata; Hideki; (Zama-shi,
JP) ; Noguchi; Kazuhiko; (Sano-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSHA LIANG L.L.P.
TWO HOUSTON CENTER, 909 FANNIN, SUITE 3500
HOUSTON
TX
77010
US
|
Assignee: |
NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Yokohama-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
39685218 |
Appl. No.: |
12/099487 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/37.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 3/104 20130101;
B60R 7/06 20130101; Y10S 224/926 20130101; B60N 3/101 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/37.12 |
International
Class: |
B60N 3/10 20060101
B60N003/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 29, 2007 |
JP |
2007-142487 |
Jan 22, 2008 |
JP |
2008-011740 |
Claims
1. A structure of a vehicle dashboard, comprising: an accommodation
unit provided at a longitudinal end of the dashboard and positioned
adjacent to a door and a side mirror located outside the door
adjacent to the accommodation unit; the accommodation unit
configured to receive an article; and the accommodation unit
comprising a lid, wherein the lid is configured to stand up
adjacent to the side mirror when in an open position.
2. The structure of claim 1, wherein a color of the lid is similar
to a color of a portion of the dashboard.
3. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a defrosting side
vent configured to direct airflow at a window of the door, wherein
the lid does not obstruct the airflow when in the open
position.
4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the lid further comprises a
straight-line portion configured to extend substantially parallel
and offset from the airflow when the lid is in the open
position.
5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the accommodation unit
comprises a beverage container holder.
6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the beverage container holder
is configured to divert airflow from an HVAC system to heat or cool
a beverage container when the lid is in the open position.
7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the lid prevents access to the
accommodation unit when in a closed position.
8. A dashboard for a vehicle, comprising: an accommodation unit
provided at a longitudinal end of the dashboard and positioned
proximately to a door and a side mirror located outside the door
adjacent to the accommodation unit; the accommodation unit
configured to receive an article; the accommodating unit comprising
a lid having an open position and a closed position; and wherein
the lid is positioned between the side mirror and the article when
in the open position.
9. The dashboard of claim 8, wherein the article comprises a
beverage container.
10. The structure of claim 8, wherein a color of the lid is similar
to a color of a portion of the dashboard.
11. The dashboard of claim 8, further comprising a defrosting side
vent configured to direct airflow at a window of the door, wherein
the lid does not obstruct the airflow when in the open
position.
12. The dashboard of claim 1, wherein the accommodation unit
comprises a cup holder.
13. The dashboard of claim 12, wherein accommodation unit is
configured to divert airflow from an HVAC system to the cup holder
when the lid is in the open position.
14. The dashboard of claim 13, wherein the accommodation unit is
configured to prevent diversion of airflow from the HVAC system to
the cup holder when the lid is in the closed position.
15. An accommodation unit of a vehicle dashboard, the accommodation
unit comprising: a holder means for receiving a beverage container;
a lid means operable between an open position and a closed
position; the accommodation unit positioned at a longitudinal end
of the vehicle dashboard and positioned proximate to a door and a
side mirror; and wherein the lid means is configured to be
positioned between the beverage container and the side mirror when
in the open position.
16. The accommodation unit of claim 15, wherein a color of the lid
means is similar to a color of a portion of the vehicle
dashboard.
17. The accommodation unit of claim 15, wherein the lid means is
configured to not obstruct airflow flowing from a defrosting means
to a window of the door.
18. A method to retain an article in a vehicle dashboard, the
method comprising: installing an accommodation unit at a
longitudinal end of the vehicle dashboard proximate to a door and a
side mirror, wherein the accommodation unit comprises a lid having
an open position and a closed position; opening the lid; placing
the article in a receptacle of the accommodation unit exposed by
the opened lid; and obstructing the side mirror's view of the
article with the opened lid.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the article is a beverage
container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2007-142487, filed May 29, 2007 and Japanese Patent
Application No. 2008-011740, filed Jan. 22, 2008. The contents of
both priority Applications are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to vehicle
dashboard structures including accommodating units, which can
accommodate an article, at a door-side end portion of the
dashboard. More particularly, selected embodiments disclosed herein
relate to holders for beverage containers (e.g., cup holders) for
vehicle dashboards.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In the prior art, a container holder (i.e., a "cup holder")
that accommodates a beverage container, has been provided at a
door-side end of a dashboard of an automobile. As such, a portion
of heated and/or cooled air flowing through an airflow path of the
vehicle heating ventilation and air conditioning system ("HVAC")
provided in the interior of the dashboard is directed to flow in
the container holder, either to cool or heat the beverage
container. (Refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2000-135935).
[0006] However, as formerly presented, the entire periphery of the
top portion of the beverage container, for example a can or a paper
cup, held in the container holder is exposed. Therefore, when a
driver seated in a driver's seat views a side mirror adjacent to
passenger's seat, the aforementioned exposed portion of the
beverage container may be reflected in a door window and obstruct a
line of sight of the driver and be reflected in the side mirror. In
one circumstance, when a color of the beverage container is
reflected in the side mirror is distinct from a color of the
surrounding the dashboard, the driver may become distracted.
SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED SUBJECT MATTER
[0007] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a structure
of a dashboard of a vehicle including an accommodation unit
provided at a longitudinal end of the dashboard and positioned
adjacent to a door and a side mirror located outside the door
adjacent to the accommodation unit, the accommodation unit
configured to receive an article, and the accommodation unit
including a lid, wherein the lid is configured to stand up adjacent
to the side mirror when in an open position.
[0008] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a
dashboard for a vehicle including an accommodation unit provided at
a longitudinal end of the dashboard and positioned proximately to a
door and a side mirror located outside the door adjacent to the
accommodation unit, the accommodation unit configured to receive an
article, the accommodating unit including a lid having an open
position and a closed position, and wherein the lid is positioned
between the side mirror and the article when in the open
position.
[0009] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an
accommodation unit of a vehicle dashboard including a holder means
for receiving a beverage container, a lid means operable between an
open position and a closed position, the accommodation unit
positioned at a longitudinal end of the vehicle dashboard and
positioned proximate to a door and a side mirror, and wherein the
lid means is configured to be positioned between the beverage
container and the side mirror when in the open position.
[0010] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a
method to retain an article in a vehicle dashboard including
installing an accommodation unit at a longitudinal end of the
vehicle dashboard proximate to a door and a side mirror, wherein
the accommodation unit comprises a lid having an open position and
a closed position, opening the lid, placing the article in a
receptacle of the accommodation unit exposed by the opened lid, and
obstructing the side mirror's view of the article with the opened
lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] Features of the present disclosure will become more apparent
from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view drawing of an automobile
dashboard proximal to a front passenger's seat in an automobile in
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective-view drawings of the
container holder shown in FIG. 1, where FIG. 2A depicts a lid of
the container holder in an open position and FIG. 2B depicts the
lid in a closed state.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective-view drawing of the
container holder of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 4A is sectioned-view drawing of the beverage holder of
FIG. 1 taken along line IVA-IVA.
[0016] FIG. 4B is a plan view drawing of the container holder of
FIG. 1 viewed from the outside of the automobile.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] An embodiment of the present disclosure will hereunder be
given with reference to the drawings.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the vicinity
surrounding a dashboard assembly 1 on a side of a front passenger's
seat in an automobile in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure. While it is assumed that, in the automobile disclosed,
a driver's seat is provided on the left side, it should be
understood that the driver's and passenger's positions may be
reversed (i.e., in a right-hand-drive vehicle) without departing
from the scope of the claimed invention.
[0019] As such, dashboard 1 may include a curved top surface 1a
that slopes downward as it extends toward the rear of the vehicle
from a lower edge 3a of a front windshield 3. A container holder 5
may be provided as an accommodation unit at a door-side (i.e.,
longitudinal) end 1b of dashboard 1 situated at an outer side of a
curved top surface 1a. That is, in the vicinity of a door opening 7
at the longitudinal end 1b of dashboard 1, container holder 5 may
be provided as an accommodation unit.
[0020] While a container holder 5 (i.e., a cup or beverage holder)
is disclosed herein, it should be understood that other
accommodation units may be used without departing from the scope of
the claimed subject matter. In particular, accommodation units
configured to retain cups, bottles, cans, loose change, sunglasses,
ashtrays, and various other objects may be substituted for
container holder 5 depicted.
[0021] In addition, a side mirror 11 may be mounted to a location
near container holder 5 upon a door 9 that opens and closes the
door opening 7. Thus, mirror 11 may be positioned adjacent to a
door window 21 provided by door 9.
[0022] Dashboard 1 may also include a front face 1c extending
downward from curved top surface 1a. An HVAC vent opening 13 may be
provided at an end portion of front face 1c and below container
holder 5. A glove box 15 may be provided in a lower inclined
surface 1d of dashboard 1. As shown, inclined surface 1d may be
continuously formed with front face 1c of dashboard 1 so as to
incline further downward from front face 1c and towards the front
side of the vehicle.
[0023] A pathway for heated and/or cooled air in dashboard 1 for
connecting an HVAC system to vent opening 13 may be constructed to
divert airflow toward an interior of container holder 5. Thus, the
pathway may cause a portion of heated and/or cooled air from the
HVAC system to flow into the container holder 5 to heat or cool a
beverage container 17 contained therein.
[0024] Further, a defrosting side vent 19 may be provided in curved
top surface of dashboard 1 and may be disposed between container
holder 5 and lower edge 3a of front windshield 3. Air blown from
the defrosting vent 19 may be blown in the vicinity of a lower
corner of door window 21 to prevent fogging of door window 21.
[0025] Next, container holder 5 will be described in conjunction
with perspective-view FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A depicts a lid 23 of
container holder 5 in an open position. In the open position shown
in FIG. 2A (and FIG. 1), lid 23 stands up on its side adjacent to
side mirror 11. In contrast, FIG. 2B depicts lid 23 of container
holder 5 in a closed position. FIG. 3 depicts an exploded
perspective view of container holder 5.
[0026] As shown, container holder 5 includes a main body 25, lid
23, and a trim piece 27. Lid 23 may be pivotally mounted to main
body 25 so that it can be opened and closed. Trim piece 27 may be
secured to a top portion of main body 25 so as to cover the
periphery of lid 23 when in the closed position. The colors of trim
piece 27 and an outer portion 35 (described below) of lid 23 of the
lid 23, which are exposed may be the same or similar color as the
remainder of dashboard 1.
[0027] Main body 25 may comprise a container supporting unit 29 and
a lid supporting unit 31. Container supporting unit 29 may have a
recessed portion 29a to accommodate a beverage container 17 (FIG.
1). Lid supporting unit 31 may be integrally provided with
container supporting unit 29 so as to cover an opening in a
vehicle-width direction outer side of container supporting unit 29.
As shown, container supporting unit 29 includes a bottom wall 29b,
a side wall 29c, a front wall 29d, and a back wall 29e. Bottom wall
29b may define the aforementioned recessed portion 29a. Side wall
29c may be positioned at an inner side in the vehicle-width
direction. Lid supporting unit 31 may include supporting
protrusions 33 positioned on top portions of front wall 29d and
back wall 29e.
[0028] Lid 23 may comprise a lid outer portion 35 and a lid inner
portion 39. Lid inner portion 39 may be secured to a back face of
lid outer portion 35 by screws 37. Lid inner portion 39 may include
pair of rotating supporting units 41 of lid inner portion 39 that
protrude inward (in the vehicle width direction) from respective
longitudinal-direction ends when lid outer portion 35 is closed.
Rotating supporting units 41 may be inserted into respective gaps
43. One of gaps 43 may be formed between front wall 29d of
container supporting unit 29 and corresponding supporting
protrusion 33 of lid supporting unit 31. The other gap 43 may be
formed between back wall 29e of container supporting unit 29 and
corresponding supporting protrusion 33 of lid supporting unit
31.
[0029] Bushing collars 45 may be inserted through holes 41a of
rotating supporting units 41. Axial lengths of collars 45 may be
substantially the same as gaps 43 and may be slightly longer than
the width of rotating supporting units 41. Thus, fasteners 47
(e.g., screws, rivets, bolts, etc) may be inserted through holes
33a of supporting protrusions 33 and collars 45 and into a screw
holes 29d1 and 29e1 of front and back walls 29d and 29e.
[0030] One of collars 45 may interposed and secured between front
wall 29d and corresponding supporting protrusion 33, while the
other collar 45 is interposed and secured between back wall 29d and
its corresponding supporting protrusion 33 by screws 47. Thus, lid
inner portion 29, including rotating supporting units 41, may be
rotated around rotating supporting units 41 with respect to main
body 25 between open (FIG. 2A) and closed (FIG. 2B) positions.
[0031] Additionally, trim piece 27 may include an opening 27a into
which lid outer portion 35 in the closed state of FIG. 2B moves.
Trim piece 27 may be secured to main body 25 by fitting engaging
pins 49 of main body 25 into trim piece 27. Engaging pins 49 may be
provided to and protrude upward from a top end surface of main body
25 such that two engaging pins 49 may be provided at container
supporting unit 29 one engaging pin 49 may be provided at lid
supporting unit 31.
[0032] Thus, container holder 5 may be secured to dashboard 1 by
fitting it to end portion 1b provided at the lower side of the
curved top surface 1a of the dashboard 1 as shown in FIG. 1.
Furthermore, protrusions (not shown) of container holder 5 may be
engaged into corresponding holes (not shown) of dashboard 1. Such
engaging protrusions may be formed at a lower surface of the
vehicle front side of trim piece 27 and may protrude in a downward
direction.
[0033] FIG. 4A is a side sectional view of dashboard 1 taken along
line IVA-IVA of FIG. 1. FIG. 4B is a plan view of container holder
5 (and vicinity) of FIG. 1 viewed from outside of the vehicle. As
such, FIGS. 4A and 4B both depict lid 23 in the open state. As
shown in FIG. 4A, outer portion 35 of opened lid 23 may be offset
from an area B (indicating a direction in which air is blown out
from defrosting side vent 19) so as to not obstruct the flow of air
flowing from defrosting side vent 19 to door window 21.
Furthermore, in the open state, outer portion 35 of lid 23 may be
formed so that a portion 35a situated adjacent to area B extends
offset and in the same direction as the an axis (i.e., a central
axis) P of the airflow from defrosting side vent 19.
[0034] The direction in which the air is blown out from the
defrosting side vent 19 may be determined by a louver provided at
the defrosting side vent 19.
[0035] Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, beverage container 17 may
be contained in recessed portion 29a of container supporting unit
29 of main body 25 following the opening of lid 23 of container
holder 5. Here, beverage container 17 may be cooled or heated by
directed heated and/or cooled airflow in recessed portion 29a
through the pathway for the heated and/or cooled air in the
dashboard 1 described above for diverting airflow toward an
interior of container holder 5.
[0036] When container holder 5 is not used (i.e., when no beverage
container 17 is present), lid 23 may be closed as shown in FIG. 2B
to leave a visually appealing appearance. Additionally, leakage of
air from recessed portion 29a of the heated and/or cooled air
flowing therethrough is restricted. Thus, it may be possible to
reduce the amount of heated and/or cooled air that is diverted from
vent opening 13.
[0037] If container holder 5 were constructed without lid 23, a
driver seated to the left of passenger's seat viewing side mirror
11, a portion of the beverage container 17 positioned in container
holder 5 adjacent to side mirror 11 would be reflected in door
window 21. As such, the portion of beverage container 17 reflected
in door window and side mirror 11 might possibly overlap or
obstruct a line of sight of the driver. Therefore, the portion of
beverage container 17 reflected in door window 21 may be at a
position where it is reflected in side mirror 11.
[0038] However, in selected embodiments, lid 23 (including outer
portion 35) is positioned between side mirror 11 and beverage
container 17 when in the open state. Therefore, a portion of lid 23
having a color similar to that of surrounding portions of dashboard
1 will be reflected (as an image 23A) in door window 21 and side
mirror 11 to overlap the line of sight of the driver instead. That
is, open lid 23 whose color is similar to that of dashboard 1 will
be reflected in side mirror 11 as image 23A hiding beverage
container 17. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent beverage
container 17 from being reflected in side mirror 11. Therefore, it
is possible to prevent a driver from being distracted by a beverage
container (or any other object) reflected in side mirror 11, so
that the driver may safely check his rearward field of view.
[0039] Because the color of lid 23 reflected in side mirror 11 as
image 23A may be similar to or the same as that of dashboard 1, it
may be less of a distraction to the driver if reflected in side
mirror 11 than a beverage container 17 would be.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 4B, vehicle rear-end side of open lid 23
(i.e., lid outer portion 35) protrudes in a rearward direction of
the vehicle with respect to recessed portion 29a. Therefore, even
if the portion of beverage container 17 reflected in door window 21
and side mirror 11 overlaps a line of sight of the driver, the
portion of beverage container 17 reflected in door window 21, it is
possible to reliably prevent the beverage container 17 from being
reflected in the side mirror 11.
[0041] Because defrosting side vent 19 that blows out air towards
door window 21 at door 9 may be provided in dashboard 1, and
because open lid 23 of container holder 5 may be displaced from the
area situated towards the front in the direction in which air is
blown out from defrosting vent 19, the air blown out from
defrosting side vent 19 may be blocked by open lid 23. Therefore, a
desired de-fogging function may be ensured for door window 21.
[0042] Because a straight-line portion (e.g., 35a of FIG. 2A)
extending in the same direction as the airflow blowout direction
may be provided at lid 23, it is possible to more effectively
prevent lid 23 from blocking the air blown out from defrosting side
vent 19 along area B.
[0043] Furthermore, it should be understood that other accessories
for containing articles other than beverage containers 17 may be
used without departing from the scope of the disclosed
embodiments.
[0044] While the disclosure has been presented with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having
benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments
may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the present
disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be
limited only by the attached claims.
* * * * *